Yusuf has a Bachelors degree in Accounting, a postgraduate in diploma in Accounting and a postgraduate Advanced Taxation certification. He is a Chartered Accountant by profession, having served articles at MSGM Masuku Jeena (later acquired by Pricewaterhousecoopers).

He worked as an employees’ tax consultant at Ernst & Young and headed up the remuneration department at the MTN Group. He lectured on the MBA programme at Mancosa. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA).

Yusuf has served on the Continuing Professional Development Committee at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) for 6 years. He is a former board member of the South African Board for People Practice (SABPP). He was an advisory board member at the Institute for International Research. At the South African Institute of Professional Accountants, Yusuf contributed on the board and numerous committees.

In 2011 Yusuf received the HR Strategic Leadership Award at the World HRD Congress.

In 2024 he was a finalist in the African Startup Ecosystem Builders Awards, Startup Mentor category